Message preached October 22, 2000
Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Glen Arm, Maryland USA
based upon Mark 10:35-45

In a little more than two weeks, many of us will be entering the voting booth
to choose the next President of the United States. Of the two major candidates,
one is somewhat on the left of the political spectrum, and the other is somewhat
on the right. I say "somewhat," because both have been trying to get
as close to the political center as possible. Now, there are those who say that
this election provides a clear choice. Many other voices, however, are raised
saying that what we have in the two major political parties are "tweedle-dee"
and "tweedle-dum," There are, of course, other options.

Now, let me assure you, I donít plan to make this sermon a discussion of
politics, endorsing one candidate over another. I recall 20 years ago, when I
was new to this pastor "stuff," being advised by an elder minister to
"always keep the people guessing as to your politics, never stating whether
you are a Republican or a Democrat" (or whatever). For better or worse, Iíve
followed this counsel, though Iím sure some can listen through what I say to
discover how I lean. Of course, such might be misleading.

I also remember a discussion with my wifeís Uncle, a person I highly
respect who is not so vague on his leanings. Something I said led him to reply,
"so, you must be a Liberal." The way he pronounced it indicated he
considered it close to profanity - the big "L" word. My comeback was
this, "in some things Iím a liberal, in other things Iím a
conservative." Itís not being wishy-washy. Itís the truth.
"Conservative" and "liberal" are just swings of a pendulum.
Furthermore, few people are across-the-board one or the other - including Al
Gore and George W. Bush.

Instead of talking about Al and George this morning, however, Iíd rather
turn our attention to James and John. These sons of their father, Zebedee, were
two of the original disciples of Jesus, called away from their fishing nets on
the sea of Galilee along with their colleagues Simon and Andrew. Now, gospel
storyteller Mark indicates that Jesus gave James and John another
name, "Boanerges," which Mark translated as "sons of
thunder" (Mark 3:17). We really havenít a clue
why this name was given by our Lord, or why Mark tagged on his own translation.
It is never mentioned again, in the Bible or anywhere else.

"Boanerges" could also be connected to such words as
"commotion," "excitement," "agitation,"
"tumult," "wrath," or even "shout." That name
might indicate something of the character of these two brothers who, if they had
lived today in the current state of Israel, might have been in the thick of the
present conflict between Jew and Palestinian. The recent issue of Newsweek
had a photo of a young man very angrily throwing a stone, focused upon some
enemy not seen by the reader. A son of thunder?

We are uncomfortable with people who care so deeply about some cause that
they are willing to die for it. We call them agitators, zealots or, even worse,
terrorists. We are rightly shocked and outraged when a little boat pulls
alongside a mighty warship and detonates a massive explosion, tearing a huge
hole in its side, thus killing not only the two terrorists, but also 17 of the
crew of that state-of-the-art military vessel. Bringing the guilty to justice
will prove more difficult than consoling the grieving families, and retaliation
could lead to war - a frightening prospect in a world where thermonuclear
devices and deadly germs can possibly be smuggled anywhere by those who are
willing to die for a cause.

I have a feeling we may be touching territory familiar to our two sons of
Zebedee. If we consider that band of disciples Jesus called together a nice
small group of boys weíd like to invite over for a cup of tea, we may have
missed something. I have a sneaking suspicion that these two brothers would have
made some of us very uncomfortable. They wouldnít be the folks that come up
with those political campaign attack ads none of us like, but are still
influenced by. No, James and John might be the attack ads themselves.

Please note that Iíve purposely pulled the sons of Zebedee further to the
left or the right than what we have evidence for. After all, we donít really
know what this "boanerges," "sons of thunder" bit is all
about. I also have a feeling that Jesus had a profound effect on these two men -
his teaching, his very presence with them, his death, and his resurrection from
the grave. Can someone be transformed by Christ? We wouldnít be here today if
that were not the case, would we?

In this morningís portion of the gospel as told by Mark, we find James and
John coming to Jesus with what appears to be a somewhat selfish request. "Rabbi,
we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."(Mark
10:35) Actually that request doesnít sound so bad when heard in light
of something Jesus promised, "ask and it will be given you..."(Matthew
7:7, Luke 11:9) Of course, as Mark tells the story, this assurance,
worded a bit differently, is spoken after this encounter with James and John. In
the next chapter, Jesus says, "whatever you ask for in prayer, believe
that you have received it, and it will be yours."(Mark
11:24) Even so, weíre still a bit uncomfortable with that request of
James and John.

"Do for us whatever we ask of you...." Funny, but isnít
that sort of what an election boils down to for so many people. We vote for the
person who will do the most for us. We say weíre sick and tired of all the
promises politicians make to get us on their side, but when it comes down to it
isnít that what tends to drive the whole machine? "Do for us whatever
we ask of you." Am I wrong? And, you know what, itís always been that
way, whether we call it selfishness, or enlightened self-interest. It seems that
when it comes to elections, at least in this country, on one side we have
enlightened self-interest and on the other we have zealous crusading for a
particular cause. And Iím not talking Liberal verses Conservative, Democrat
verses Republican (or whatever).

Back to Jesus and the sons of Zebedee. Our Lord, in response to their request
simply asks, Okay, "what is it you want me to do for you?" To
which they replied, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at
your left, in your glory." A humorous sidenote: gospel storyteller
Matthew also relates this episode, but there itís not the "sons of
thunder" who bodly ask, itís their mother. James and John hide behind her
skirts, so to speak. A very different picture, wouldnít you say? Sometimes we
perceive a person as forthright or aggressive. Other times we may see them as
insecure or hesitant. Itís the same person, though, isnít it? I presume
Matthew and Mark are telling about the same James and John. There are as many
angles on the same person as there are people to observe him.

Anyway, here is the request - when push comes to shove, when things turn out
the way they should, James and John want to be next to Jesus, one on the left
and the other on the right. If indeed their desire is to stick close to our
Lord, through thick and thin, is that so bad? Of course, what they meant by
"glory" is the question of the hour. Were these sons of thunder
envisioning a tumultuous battle in which they wanted to be right there with
Jesus, fighting at his side in the middle of the glorious conflict? "Glory,
glory, hallelujah, his truth is marching on..." A zealotís dream, which
from the other side may be perceived as a terrorist nightmare. Weíll die for
you!

Maybe thatís not what they meant, however. Perhaps the sons of Zebedee were
thinking about after the war was over, with the glory being the throne in which
the victor would sit. The left hand or the right would then be a position of
power and influence. Were James and John lobbying Jesus for the spoils after the
contest? Iíll campaign for you, Iíll vote for you, if you give me what I
want.... What motivated James and John, the zeal of the crusader or en lighted
self-interest? Could be a combination of both.

"You donít know what youíre asking," Jesus responded.
"Are you able to drink from the same cup as I will?" Their last
words in this episode are simply, "we are able," which doesnít
really answer our questions about their motivations. Thatís probably a good
thing. This way, we can stop looking at them and start looking at us, asking of
ourselves the same questions. What motivates us? Are we really able to drink
from the cup of Christ? Those should never be easy to answer, brothers and
sisters!

Forty years ago, another Presidential election brought into office a
candidate who challenged us with a sentence which has been remembered ever
since. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for
your country." What we think of that man and his politics, as well as what
may have motivated him to utter those words, does not matter. Itís what such a
simple sentence motivates in us thatís important.

Thereís another sentence which, as I see it, is a better motivator than
anything said in any inaugural address uttered in front of the capital of the
most powerful nation in the world. The words are from Jesus, son of a carpenter,
son of God. He spoke them to all his disciples, after they started to get upset
at that request from James and John to sit at his side in glory, one on the
right and one on the left. "Whoever wishes to become great among you
must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must become slave
of all."(Mark 10:43-44)

This is definitely not a picture of someone who acts only upon his or her own
self-interest, enlightened or otherwise. Likewise, it is not a portrait of a
politician (on the left or on the right) saying whatever needs to be said in
order to get elected. Furthermore, few crusading zealots would find this image
all that appealing, for greatness (as Jesus here defines it) is not found in the
heat of glorious battle. It is not discovered in getting your own way. It is not
seen in reaching the supposed pinnacle of power. Instead, true greatness is
discerned in the rather inglorious act of giving yourself for others.

Now, Iím not sure how that might help you in the decision process that
awaits on November 7th. Some of us already have our minds made up as
to who weíll vote for. And some of us may not vote, though Iíd encourage you
to reconsider and participate in this privilege and responsibility of living in
a democracy. My words, however, are intended for beyond this election. What
matters is not so much which public servant we choose to rule over us but,
rather, what sort of "public" servants we choose to become. Are we in
life for the glory of it all? Are we out only for what benefits us the most? Is
our interest, primarily, in whatever is most popular? Or are we motivated by the
call of Christ and the need of others, whom we find on the left and on the
right? Even if thatís not good "politics," itís the way of the
cross.